Straight edge clamp

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a straight edge clamp that has a clamping head assembly and a stop assembly mounted upon the body of the straight edge. The head and stop are not connected together and the stop assembly is free to move with respect to the head assembly. The stop assembly has a locking assembly that allows it to be locked to the straight edge. The straight edge clamp body can include sections that are adapted to be connected together to form the overall length of the straight edge clamp.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This divisional application claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No.14/243,935 filed on Apr. 3, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/807,786 filed on Apr. 3, 2013, which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

NONE

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a straight edge clamp and, moreparticularly, a straight edge clamp with a unique clamping system whichreduces weight and costs and a unique connector that permits the lengthof the straight edge to be easily changed by the attachment or removalof sections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general terms, this invention provides a straight edge clamp and,more particularly, a straight edge clamp that permits the length of thestraight edge to be easily changed by the attachment or removal ofsections through a connector and the use of a unique clamping systemwhich also reduces weight and costs.

The straight edge clamp of the present invention includes an elongatedbody, a clamping head assembly and an end stop assembly. In thepreferred embodiment, the elongated body includes at least two sectionsand a connector for connecting the sections to form the elongated body.It should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that thenumber of sections connected together determines the length of thestraight edge clamp. Any number of sections can be connected together;additionally, a single section can be used due to the unique head andstop assemblies.

The length of the sections in the disclosed embodiment are eachapproximately two feet in length and can be attached to form two, four,six, eight, ten, twelve foot, etc., straight edge clamps. The sectionlengths can be any other length if desired. This is a benefit since itallows a user to purchase the number of sections to form the desiredlength of the straight edge clamp. This also alleviates the need for theuser to have a number of straight edge clamps for different jobs as isrequired with conventional straight edge clamps. With the straight edgeclamp of the present invention, the user merely attaches the sectionstogether to obtain the desired length. Another benefit of the sectionsis the straight edge clamp of the present invention is easier and lesscostly to ship than conventional straight edge clamps since it can bepackaged in a small package, the general size of the sections. A stillfurther benefit of the sections is that it is easier to display at thepoint of purchase when compared to conventional straight edge clamps.With the straight edge clamp of the present invention, the sections canbe displayed with the clamping head assembly, the end stop assembly andif desired the end cap.

The elongated body has opposed edges, a top and a bottom. A main channelis formed in the bottom. The connector can be inserted into the mainchannel of adjoining sections to form any desired length. The clampinghead assembly and the stop assembly are mounted within the main channela spaced distance from one another. The clamping head assembly has amovable jaw that is movable in the direction of the stop assembly, froma released position to a clamped position. The stop assembly has a jawthat is movable in the direction away from said first jaw from anunlocked position to a locked position.

In the disclosed embodiment, the stop assembly can be removed andrepositioned in the channel of the end section that is furthest awayfrom the clamping head assembly. The ability to move the stop assemblyto the last section, allows any number of sections to be attached toform a straight edge of desired length. The clamping head assembly andthe stop assembly are not connected together allowing the stop assemblyto be moved.

In use, the bottom of the elongated body is adapted to be positionedagainst a work surface. The work surface has sides and the clamping headassembly and stop assembly are adapted to be positioned against thesides. Once positioned, the second jaw is moved to the clamped position.In one of the disclosed embodiments, the second jaw is moved to theclamped position by rotating a handle. The first jaw is moved to thelocked position upon movement of the second jaw. The second jaw pullsthe elongated body in the direction away from the stop assembly, whichin turn pushes the first jaw of the end stop into the locked position.As a result, the straight edge clamp is locked onto the work surface.

In a second embodiment, the stop assembly can also be moved along theelongated body. In this embodiment, the stop assembly has a rotatablelock mechanism that is rotated from the unlocked to the locked position.The locking mechanism includes engagement surfaces to engage thesidewalls of the channel. An advantage of this embodiment is that a verysimple engagement member can be used in place of the clamping headassembly.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will becomemore apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed descriptionof a preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detaileddescription are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the underside of the first embodiment ofthe straight edge clamp of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the straight edge clampof the present invention clamped to a surface;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the straightedge clamp of the present invention clamped to a surface;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the first embodiment of the straight edge clampof the present invention clamped to a surface;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two sections of the first embodiment ofthe straight edge clamp of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the straight edge clamp of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the end stop assembly of the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the end stop base of the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the end stop base of the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an end view of the first jaw of the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the first jaw of the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the clamping head assembly of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is an end view of a further embodiment of the end stop of thepresent invention in the unlocked position.

FIG. 14 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 13 in the lockedposition.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the end stop of FIG. 13 in the lockedposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 through 4, the first embodiment of thestraight edge clamp of the present invention is shown generally at 10.The straight edge clamp 10 includes an elongated body 12, a clampinghead assembly 14 and an end stop assembly 16. An end cap 18 is providedin the disclosed embodiment to close the end of the straight edge clamp10.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the elongated body 12 includes at leasttwo sections 15 and 17 and a connector 19 for connecting the sections 15and 17 together to form the elongated body 12. It will be appreciated bythose of ordinary skill in the art that the number of sections 15 and 17that are connected together will determine the length of the straightedge clamp 10. By way of example, the sections in the disclosedembodiment are each approximately two feet in length and can be attachedto form two, four, six, eight, ten, twelve foot etc. straight edgeclamps. This allows a user to purchase the number of sections 15 and 17to form the desired length straight edge clamp 10. This also alleviatesthe need for the user to have a number of straight edge clamps fordifferent jobs. With the straight edge clamp 10 of the presentinvention, the user merely attaches the sections 15 and 17 to obtain thedesired length. It should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill inthe art that other section lengths can be used, for example 6 inches, 1foot, 2 foot, etc.

With reference to FIG. 6, the profile of the elongated body 12 is shown.The elongated body 12 includes a top surface 21 and a bottom surface 23.The bottom surface 23 has spaced openings 22 adjoining a generallyc-shaped central channel 24. In the disclosed embodiment, the centralchannel 24 has protrusions 26 and locator rails 28 protruding into thechannel 24. There are also optional outer attachment ribs 30 andattachment grooves 20. These can be used to attach other items to thestraight edge clamp 10.

With reference to FIG. 7, the end stop 16 will be described in greaterdetail. The end stop 16 has a base 32 that slides into and along thechannel 24. There is a handgrip 34 on the base that facilitates themovement of the end stop along the channel 24. A first jaw 36 is movablymounted upon the base 32 and can be moved from a released position to alocked position. Clamp pads 38 are mounted within the base 32 and can beforced outwardly by the movement of the first jaw 36 to the lockedposition. The clamp pads 38 engage the sidewalls 25 (see FIG. 6) whenthe end stop 16 is in the locked position.

With reference to FIGS. 7 through 15, the first jaw 36 has limit tabs 40that engage limit tabs 42 on the base 32. The limit tabs 42 restrict themovement of the first jaw 36 within the base 32.

The base 32 includes a passage 35 that receives a wedge member 50extending from the first jaw 36. The wedge member 50 has angled sidesthat engage the clamp pads 38 and force them to the locked position whenthe wedge member 50 is forced into the passage 35. The wedge member isforced into the passage 35 and against the clamp pads 38, when theclamping head assembly 14 is engaged, as will be described in greaterdetail below. It should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill theart that the wedge member 50 could have a single side extending at anacute angle to the longitudinal center line of the straight edge body 12and that only one clamp pad 38 would be needed.

Guide fingers 46 extend out of the base 32 and into guide finger pockets48, see FIG. 10. The fingers 46 in the first pockets 48 align the firstjaw 36 and facilitate its movement with respect to base 32. A secondpocket 55 can also be provided to receive a spring to bias the first jaw36 to the released position.

With reference to FIG. 12, the clamping head assembly 14 will bedescribed. The clamping head assembly 14 is fitted into the end of oneof the sections 15, 17 of the elongated straight edge body 12. As shownin FIGS. 2 through 4, the clamping head assembly 14 has attachmentfingers 51 that are positioned in the c-shaped tracks 20. Additionally,in the disclosed embodiment, there are apertures 53 that receive detentsextending from the fingers 51. The clamping head assembly 14 alsoincludes a mounting extension, not shown, that extends into the channel24. In another embodiment, there are additional mounting extensions thatextend into the openings 22.

The clamping head assembly includes a second jaw 52 and a clampactuation handle 54. The second jaw 52 is movably mounted in a clampbody 56. The handle 54 includes a cam member 57 that engages and pushesthe second jaw in to the direction of the stop assembly 16 when thehandle 54 is rotated. Guides 58 engage the rails 28 to facilitate themovement of the second jaw 52. Limit tabs 60 and 62 limit the movementof the second jaw 52.

In use, the bottom surface 23 of the elongated body 12 is positionedagainst a work surface, (see FIGS. 2 through 4). The work surface hassides and the clamping head assembly 14 and stop assembly 16 are adaptedto be positioned against the sides. The second jaw 52 is positionedagainst one side of the work surface and the end stop assembly 16 ismoved to engage the first jaw 36 against the other side of the worksurface. Once positioned, the second jaw 52 is moved to the clampedposition. In the disclosed embodiment, the second jaw 52 is moved to theclamped position by rotating handle 54. The first jaw 36 is moved to thelocked position upon movement of the second jaw 52. The second jaw 52pulls the elongated body 12 in the direction away from the stop assembly16, which in turn pushes the first jaw 36 of the end stop 16 into thelocked position. As a result, the straight edge clamp is locked onto thework surface.

With reference to FIGS. 15 through 17, a further embodiment of the endstop assembly 70 is illustrated. The end stop assembly 70 includes a jaw74 and a base 76 and a rotatable locking member 78. The locking member78 is rotatably mounted upon a pin 80. The locking member 78 includesengagement surfaces 82. As illustrated, the locking member 78 is agenerally ovoid shaped member, but could have any shape that includesengagement surfaces 82 that can be rotated into contact with thesidewalls 25.

In this embodiment, the clamping head assembly can be the same asassembly 14 or it can be a simple extension from the straight edge body12. If the clamping head is assembly 14, the assembly 14 can bepositioned at one side of the work piece and the clamping head 72 ispositioned against the opposite side and the locking member 78 isrotated to the locked position. The clamp actuation handle 54 can thenbe rotated to tightly fix the straight edge body 12 to the work surface.If a simple extension from the straight edge 12 is used, the extensionis abutted against one side of the work surface and the clamping head 72is moved along the straight edge body 12 to abut snugly against theopposite side of the work surface. Once the clamping head 72 is snuggedagainst the opposite side, the locking member 78 is rotated to thelocked position.

The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with therelevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather thanlimiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosedembodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do comewithin the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legalprotection afforded this invention can only be determined by studyingthe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A straight edge clamp comprising; an elongatedbody, a clamping head assembly and an end stop assembly; said elongatedbody has opposed edges, a top and a bottom, and a channel formed in saidbottom, said channel having a longitudinal axis; said stop assembly ismovable within said channel; said stop assembly includes a rotatablelocking member that rotates between a locked and unlocked position, saidlocking member having an axis of rotation that is generallyperpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said locking member beingrotatable about said axis of rotation between said locked and unlockedpositions; whereby said bottom of said elongated body is adapted to bepositioned against a work surface having sides and said clamping headassembly and stop assembly are adapted to be positioned against thesides, and said second jaw is moved to said clamped position.
 2. Thestraight edge clamp of claim 1, wherein said rotatable locking memberhas engagement surfaces adapted to engage the elongated body to locksaid stop assembly with respect to said elongated body.
 3. A straightedge clamp comprising; an elongated body, said elongated body includingat least two sections, and at least one connector for connecting saidsections to form a unitary elongated body; said elongated body hasopposed edges, a top and a bottom, and a main channel formed in saidbottom, a clamping head and an end stop assembly, said stop assembly ismovably mounted within said channel a spaced distance from said clampinghead; said end stop assembly includes a locking mechanism to lock saidend stop assembly with respect to said elongated body, said stopassembly including a rotatable locking member that rotates between alocked and unlocked position, said locking member having an axis ofrotation that is generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, saidlocking member being rotatable about said axis of rotation between saidlocked and unlocked positions; whereby said bottom of said elongatedbody is adapted to be positioned against a work surface having sides andsaid stop assembly is adapted to be positioned against one of the sides,and said locking mechanism is moved to said clamped position.
 4. Thestraight edge clamp of claim 3, wherein the overall length of saidelongated body is changed by the number of sections attached together bysaid connectors.
 5. The straight edge of claim 4, wherein said rotatablelocking member has engagement surfaces adapted to engage the elongatedbody.
 6. The straight edge of claim 5, wherein said main channel hassidewalls, said engagement surfaces engage said sidewalls in said lockedposition.
 7. A straight edge clamp comprising: an elongated body havingan open channel, said channel having a longitudinal axis; a lockingmember positioned within said channel and moveable along saidlongitudinal axis of said channel; said locking member having an axis ofrotation generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said lockingmember being rotatable about said axis of rotation between a locked andunlocked position.
 8. The straight edge clamp of claim 7, wherein saidelongated body has at least two sections and a connector for connectingsaid elongated body.
 9. The straight edge clamp of claim 7, wherein saidrotatable locking member has engagement surfaces adapted to engage theelongated body to lock said stop assembly with respect to said elongatedbody.
 10. The straight edge clamp of claim 7, wherein the overall lengthof said elongated body is determined by the number of sections attachedtogether by said connectors.
 11. The straight edge of claim 7, whereinsaid main channel has sidewalls, said engagement surfaces engage saidsidewalls in said locked position.